Amendment Would Allow Early Voting In Mass.

BOSTON Thirty-two other states allow it and now a top lawmaker hopes to set in motion a process that would eventually lead to early voting in Massachusetts.

Senate President Therese Murray has proposed an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution that would allow voters to cast ballots at polling places during the 10 days leading up to a scheduled state election.

The measure scheduled to be heard Wednesday by the Legislature’s Election Laws Committee would also let voters request absentee ballots without having to provide a reason for doing so — as they must now do.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 32 states currently allow early voting and 27 have so-called “no-excuse” absentee voting.

A constitutional amendment needs votes by two successive Legislatures and approval by voters before it can take effect.